Most of us use our vehicles for more than just commuting.
You’re picking up the kids, grabbing groceries, and transporting various items like that big TV you just bought. Or, you might want to do a family road trip and pack up all your stuff with you.
For many buyers, you’re also considering the vehicle price, maintenance, and other costs such as the price rates of car insurance. If it looks great, that’s a bonus too.
With so many day-to-day requirements, it’s no wonder that SUVs have become one of the fastest growing car segments in the market. Today, we’re choosing our top picks for family cars you can purchase in 2024.
Minivan
2024 Toyota Sienna Hybrid
The Toyota Sienna Hybrid is a minivan known for its spacious interior, comfortable ride, and fuel efficiency. It offers seating for up to eight passengers and comes with a range of family-friendly features. All models now come standard as hybrids, powered by a reliable 2.5: four-cylinder engine. Models come in FWD but are also available in AWD drivetrains.
- Key Features:
- All-wheel drive (AWD) available for added traction and stability, ideal for family adventures
- Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of driver-assistance features for enhanced safety during family travels
- Versatile seating and cargo configurations to accommodate various family needs
- Optional entertainment system with a large screen for rear passengers to keep everyone entertained during long journeys
- MSRP: Starting at $34,460.
2024 Honda Odyssey
The 2024 Honda Odyssey continues to be a top pick for families, thanks to its spacious cabin and user-friendly technology. Highlights include the Magic Slide® second-row seats for easy access and configuration, CabinWatch® and CabinTalk® systems to keep an eye and communicate with rear passengers, and the HondaVAC® in-car vacuum for easy clean-ups. Its reliable performance and advanced safety features make the Odyssey a family favorite.
- Key Features:
- Magic Slide second-row seats for easy access to the third row, perfect for families with young children or multiple car seats
- Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies to help prevent accidents and protect your loved ones
- CabinWatch and CabinTalk feature for monitoring and communicating with rear passengers, ensuring everyone stays connected and informed
- Available built-in vacuum cleaner for easy cleanup of spills and messes, keeping the interior clean and tidy for family outings
- MSRP: Starting at $32,090.
2024 Kia Carnival
The Kia Carnival is a stylish and versatile minivan designed to cater to modern family needs. It combines spaciousness, comfort, and a host of tech features to enhance the family driving experience. All Carnivals come in a FWD configuration powered by a 3.5L V6 engine. It’s a box on wheels, to be sure, but it’s also got the cheapest starting price in the minivan segment within North America so don’t knock it until you try it.
Key Features:
- Bold exterior design that stands out on family road trips and adventures
- Spacious three-row seating with available VIP Lounge Seating, providing ample room for the whole family and guests
- Kia Drive Wise suite of advanced driver-assistance systems for added peace of mind and safety during family travels
- Dual Screen Rear Entertainment System to keep passengers entertained, making long journeys more enjoyable for everyone
MSRP: Starting at $32,100.
2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
The Chrysler Pacifica hybrid combines eco-friendliness with practicality. Its plug-in hybrid powertrain delivers up to 32 miles of electric-only range, while the spacious interior with Stow ‘n Go® seating offers versatile storage options. The Pacifica Hybrid also boasts Uconnect® Theater with Amazon Fire TV, keeping the family entertained on the go. Like the other models in this list, hands-free sliding doors and liftgates offer a convenient and ergonomic way to stow things away.
- Key Features:
- Stow ‘n Go seating and storage system for convenient configuration of seating and cargo space, ideal for family outings and errands
- Uconnect infotainment system with an available 10.1-inch touchscreen to keep everyone connected and entertained on the go
- Available FamCAM interior camera system for keeping an eye on rear passengers, especially useful for families with young children
- Available hands-free sliding doors and liftgate for easy loading and unloading of groceries, gear, and kids
- MSRP: Starting at $47,340.
SUV
2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
Toyota’s been killing it, even during the COVID pandemic when other brands saw their sales struggle. The 2024 Toyota Highlander Hybrid is no exception, offering a perfect blend of efficiency, performance, and family-friendly features. Its hybrid engine ensures lower fuel costs, while the spacious interior with available third-row seating provides ample room for passengers and cargo. With features like the 12.3-inch touchscreen display, wireless charging, and Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, the Highlander Hybrid is designed to keep your family safe and connected.
- Key Features:
- Standard Toyota Safety Sense suite for advanced safety features, providing peace of mind for family travels
- Spacious and upscale cabin with available third-row seating, accommodating up to eight passengers comfortably
- Efficient hybrid powertrain for reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions, perfect for eco-conscious families
- Available all-wheel drive (AWD) for enhanced traction and stability, ensuring safe handling in various road conditions
- MSRP: Starting at $38,410.
2024 Toyota RAV4
If you don’t need the extra space offered by a Highland or a 4Runner, then the 2024 Toyota RAV4 is the next most popular choice for families seeking a compact SUV with reliability and versatility.
Its robust performance and fuel efficiency are complemented by features such as the Multi-Terrain Select system for off-road capability, a digital rearview mirror, and a panoramic glass roof. The RAV4’s comfortable interior and advanced safety features, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, make it ready for any family adventure.
- Key Features:
- Available hybrid powertrain for excellent fuel efficiency, ideal for families seeking to reduce fuel costs and environmental impact
- Standard Toyota Safety Sense suite for enhanced safety features, providing peace of mind for family outings
- Spacious cargo area with available hands-free power liftgate, making it easy to load and unload gear for family adventures
- Available all-wheel drive (AWD) with multi-terrain select for confident handling on various road surfaces, ensuring family safety during outdoor excursions
- MSRP: Starting at $27,225.
2024 Kia Telluride
Kia’s Telluride stands out as a great choice in the SUV segment with its spacious and upscale cabin, making it a great choice for larger families. It’s equipped with entertainment technology such as a 10.25-inch nav touchscreen, a head-up display, and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto.
Powered by a V6 engine, it’s got a towing capacity of over 4500 pounds which will allow you to take your camp trailer on adventures. The bold and rugged exterior design makes this mid-sized SUV a popular choice among consumers. Kia’s been continuing to make waves with newer designs each year, and it’s showing.
- Key Features:
- Spacious and well-appointed cabin with available seating for up to eight passengers, perfect for large families or group outings
- Powerful V6 engine with available all-wheel drive (AWD) for confident performance and towing capability, ideal for family road trips
- Kia Drive Wise suite of driver-assistance features for enhanced safety during family travels, providing peace of mind for parents
- User-friendly infotainment system with a large touchscreen display, keeping everyone entertained and connected on the road
- MSRP: Starting at $33,990.
Sedan
2024 Honda Accord
The Honda Accord is a staple in the mid-size family sedan segment. Long known for its reliability, it has a proven track record of longevity so you can be sure it’ll last your family for years to come. Even with the limited interior space of a sedan, it’s got a spacious cabin with ample legroom and headroom for front and rear passengers.
Accords come with either a turbocharged engine or hybrid variant, making it a cost-effective option for daily commutes or long family trips. It’s got a ton of room in the trunk too along with split-folding rear seats. You might not have as much room as a minivan or SUV, but you’ll have plenty of cargo space for daily errands.
- Key Features:
- Efficient turbocharged engines for a balance of power and fuel economy, making it suitable for family commuting and road trips
- Available hybrid powertrain for enhanced fuel economy, ideal for families seeking to reduce fuel costs and environmental impact
- Honda Sensing suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies for added peace of mind during family travels
- Spacious and upscale cabin with available wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, keeping everyone connected and entertained on the go
- MSRP: Starting at $24,970.
2024 Toyota Camry
The Camry might be the smallest car on the list, but it’s nothing to sneeze at. Just like Honda, the Camry is known for its rock-solid reliability and fuel efficiency.
Models come in a four-banger, V6, or hybrid option, offering a multitude of choices to best suit your needs. Want more power? Get a V6. Want the best of both worlds? Hybrid’s got you covered.
The Camry is a stellar representative of great value, with plenty of standard features at a competitive price.
- Key Features:
- Available hybrid powertrain for excellent fuel efficiency, perfect for families looking to save on fuel costs without compromising performance
- Toyota Safety Sense suite of advanced safety features for added protection during family travels
- Spacious and well-appointed cabin with available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, keeping everyone connected and entertained
- Comfortable ride quality and strong resale value, making it a practical choice for families seeking long-term reliability
- MSRP: Starting at $25,045.
2024 Kia K5
The 2024 Kia K5 is a midsize sedan that combines sporty design, powerful performance, and advanced technology. Performance comes in the form of a 1.6L turbocharged 4-cylinder, or you can opt for the more powerful 2.5L GT Trim. Both are available in AWD configuration for consumers who need to brave wintery roads. Even with its sportier performance options, it maintains an impressive fuel efficiency rating of 27mpg city and 37mpg highway.
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard and it’s equipped with safety features such as Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, Blind Spot Collision-Avoidance, Lane Keeping Assist, and Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance.
All of these systems contribute to its high safety ratings.
- Key Features:
- Sleek exterior design with available GT-Line appearance package, making it stand out on family road trips and daily commutes
- Spacious and well-equipped cabin with ample legroom and cargo space, accommodating passengers and gear comfortably
- Available turbocharged engine for lively performance, ensuring an engaging driving experience for family outings
- Kia Drive Wise suite of driver-assistance features for added safety during family travels, providing peace of mind for parents
- MSRP: Starting at $23,690.
We know that this list has a lot of Japanese and Korean vehicles, and it’s for good reason. Compared to European and Domestic brands, Japanese vehicles are renowned for the reliability. Despite the sneers towards Korean brands, Hyundai and Kia have made significant strides in the quality of their vehicles in recent years and have offered longer warranties to back their product and build consumer confidence.
Families who are looking for a combination of value, safety, and performance can find it in these brands compared to the Euro and domestic counterparts. If you’ve got money to spend and you’re looking for an SUV for a more refined and luxurious driving experience, you might want to check out our Best Overall SUVs list.
